| Author |
Message |
    
Dr Matt
Citizen
Username: Dr_matt
Post Number: 20
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 21, 2005 - 5:06 pm: |     |
So if you had $80-$100 to spend on dinner out in a place where your tax dollars will go back into your own community and you had never eaten locally in anything grander than St. James's Gate, where would you go? Italian or French preferred and I'll always take food quality over decor.
Thanks |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 7721
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 21, 2005 - 6:01 pm: | |
VORO in South Orange.
Cent'anni in Maplewood.
I hear Jocelyn's is very good.
What do you mean by tax dollars? The sales tax goes to the state, not the town where it is collected.
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Lizziecat
Citizen
Username: Lizziecat
Post Number: 705
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 21, 2005 - 6:11 pm: | |
Antonella's in S. Orange. |
composerjohn
Citizen
Username: Composerjohn
Post Number: 337
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 21, 2005 - 7:46 pm: | |
VORO |
algebra2
Supporter
Username: Algebra2
Post Number: 3587
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 21, 2005 - 7:47 pm: | |
I'd do BYOB and go to Jocelyn's |
cmontyburns
Citizen
Username: Cmontyburns
Post Number: 952
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 21, 2005 - 8:33 pm: | |
If you are more interested in a great meal: Antonella's.
More interested in ambience: Voro.
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TomD
Citizen
Username: Tomd
Post Number: 32
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 22, 2005 - 8:37 am: | |
I'd second the BYOB and Jocelyn's recommendation for meal quality. |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 4660
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 22, 2005 - 10:18 am: | |
Jocelyn's or Antonellas. With Jocelyn's, It has always run us about $5 per head, app, entree, dessert & tip.
Antonella's can vary a little more, but not by much. Both are quite excellent.
If you want fabulous food and plan to have wine with dinner & to stick with that budget, go to a BYOB place. We always take champaigne to Jocelyn's. No particular reason; the atmosphere invites it & it has become a tradition. |
Brett
Citizen
Username: Bmalibashksa
Post Number: 1760
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 22, 2005 - 10:23 am: | |
$5 wow what a deal, I'm there |
cmontyburns
Citizen
Username: Cmontyburns
Post Number: 953
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 22, 2005 - 10:45 am: | |
Greenetree doesn't pay the actual check, just drops a $10 on the table and makes for the door. |
Agent Orange
Citizen
Username: Agentorange
Post Number: 20
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 22, 2005 - 11:54 am: | |
Honestly, I'd grab a bottle and give Terra a try...those crabs...mmm! Going back this weekend or maybe for lunch. The place is rocking.
Antonella's is also amazing. |
redY67
Citizen
Username: Redy67
Post Number: 2313
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 22, 2005 - 11:59 am: | |
I don't think you can go wrong at any of the Maplewood/SO restaurants. My first choice would be Jocelyn's and BYO. |
howardf
Citizen
Username: Howardf
Post Number: 336
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 22, 2005 - 12:37 pm: | |
Lilac's in Millburn is better than Jocelyns or Verjus. And it is BYOB |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 4663
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 22, 2005 - 2:17 pm: | |
yeah - but sometimes we splurge and the bill hits $45 per head..... |
LilLB
Citizen
Username: Lillb
Post Number: 719
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 22, 2005 - 2:41 pm: | |
Jocelyn's - definitely top pick, but all places mentioned are good. Although I never liked Verjus - The atmosphere makes me feel like I'm sitting in a warehouse in that place - it's not "charming" to me - but I am clearly in the minority on that one as every other word I've seen on MOL about Verjus is very positive. I guess it's just preference.
Lilacs is definitely worth a try - It wasn't crowded when we went there. Felt like it was a hidden gem. Great food and service. |
xavier67
Citizen
Username: Xavier67
Post Number: 544
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 22, 2005 - 2:54 pm: | |
Just a BYOB ettiquette reminder:
Please include the cost of the wine into the total bill when calculating the tip. Whether you calculate according to retail price of the wine or restaurant price (which is usually 2 1/2x the retail price) should be based on the quality of the wine service. In other words, be generous in calculating if you bring a Chateau Petrus and they break out a decanter and Riedel glasses.
Also, if you happen to bring a really nice bottle, and the owner or the chef is into wine, offer him/her a taste. |
redY67
Citizen
Username: Redy67
Post Number: 2333
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 22, 2005 - 2:58 pm: | |
LilB, back to the old icon I see! I agree about Verjus. I love the food, the atmosphere is not as charming as it could be and the lights are entirely too bright!
I might have to give Lilac another try. We went a few years ago and had a very mediocre experience. High prices, small portions and bad service. It was our first night out after my son was born, so that was the only plus!! |
LilLB
Citizen
Username: Lillb
Post Number: 720
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 22, 2005 - 3:31 pm: | |
Lilac may have newer ownership. We went during the winter time and the guy we remembered from American Fare was actually the one who waited on us (I don't know his name, but we distinctly remember him). So, maybe he/they bought Lilac and gave up American Fare (now Terra)?
They had a poached pear dessert...mmmmmmmmmm. Give it another whirl sometime.
xavier - I have never heard of taking the cost of the BYO Wine into consideration when leaving a tip. That doesn't really make sense to me - especially adding the restaurant price!!!, but what's the rational behind that? |
redY67
Citizen
Username: Redy67
Post Number: 2341
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 22, 2005 - 3:38 pm: | |
I don't understand that either. Usually they do open the wine, but for the most part, I am pouring it myself! I definitely tip a little more, but not to much. |
Agent Orange
Citizen
Username: Agentorange
Post Number: 21
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, June 23, 2005 - 2:31 am: | |
I think xavier was saying to pay for the experience of the wine. If they open it and leave it on the table, forget it...but like xavier said if they break out the works, pour every glass, make it like you ordered it there, toss in a little something extra. |
speedie99
Citizen
Username: Speedie99
Post Number: 28
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, June 23, 2005 - 6:14 am: | |
Does no one like Basilico in Millburn? We've always been impressed the the food and service there. |
Steinism
Citizen
Username: Steinism
Post Number: 44
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, June 23, 2005 - 8:50 am: | |
I love Basilico! You can never get in on the weekends without a reservation. We also like Enzzo (sp) next to Khun Thai if we want really good italian (scrumptious desserts). It's unfortunate that I can't recommend anything in Maplewood/South Orange that has a good atmosphere, service and food.
Please don't reply back and tell me to check out VORO for atmosphere...I was highly disappointed with the service and food. They need to decide whether they are mediterranean or italian and figure out the service. |
Two Sense
Citizen
Username: Twosense
Post Number: 241
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, June 23, 2005 - 9:05 am: | |
Has anyone been to the restaurant on the Paper Mill Playhouse property lately? |
LilLB
Citizen
Username: Lillb
Post Number: 727
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, June 23, 2005 - 9:26 am: | |
Basilico is EXCELLENT. I didn't mention it earlier because the poster was asking for suggestions on where to go in M/SO. Khun Thai is great as well. |
redY67
Citizen
Username: Redy67
Post Number: 2356
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, June 23, 2005 - 1:51 pm: | |
Love Basilico and Khun Thai, excellent... |
jet
Citizen
Username: Jet
Post Number: 877
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, June 23, 2005 - 2:04 pm: | |
Xavier67 , I disagree . If they are going to charge a corkage fee & tend to the wine ie. decant it , pour it etc. OK . But to add the cost of my wine to the bill & add 20% , forget it . Now go back to the alley behind the kitchen rejoin the waiter bitch fest & pass the spleef. |
xavier67
Citizen
Username: Xavier67
Post Number: 546
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, June 23, 2005 - 2:26 pm: | |
Including the cost of the BYOB wine when calculating the tip is pretty customary, especially in NJ where restaurants w/o liquor licenses are prohibited from charging a corkage fee. If the diners don't make it their worthwhile (via $), the restaurants have no incentive to provide good wine service (whether that's providing equipment, as such as decanters, a variety of glasses, tableside coolers, or providing service as such as refilling, decanting, properly chilling before serving, etc.) that costs them money.
I mean, look at Jocelyne's. Their food and service is very nice--but their wine service is pretty minimal and doesn't match the level of the food and other aspects of the restaurant. |
redY67
Citizen
Username: Redy67
Post Number: 2359
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, June 23, 2005 - 2:53 pm: | |
xavier, you are correct about the service, but maybe they aren't trained properly. When I go to a BYO I do not expect "wine service" as I would in a restaurant that sells wine. |
oots
Citizen
Username: Oots
Post Number: 237
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, June 23, 2005 - 2:59 pm: | |
We went to Basilico last month on a thurs eve. It was packed and it was terrific!!
oots |
anon
Supporter
Username: Anon
Post Number: 1969
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, June 25, 2005 - 5:53 pm: | |
So if you had $80-$100 to spend on dinner out in a place where your tax dollars will go back into your own community and you had never eaten locally in anything grander than St. James's Gate, where would you go? Italian or French preferred and I'll always take food quality over decor.
What could be grander than St. James Gate?  |
Mayor McCheese
Supporter
Username: Mayor_mccheese
Post Number: 372
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, June 25, 2005 - 5:59 pm: | |
That could buy a lot of guinness.  |
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